Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities To Show Your Gratitude

Spend time with your family while giving back
MapQuest's TurkeyQuest has compiled a state-by-state list from California To New York of Thanksgiving events, focusing on family-friendly volunteer opportunities.

Sponsor a needy Family
Family-to-Family.org will connect you with an individual family in need. Your impact will last beyond the holiday, as you'll help provide food, clothing and other necessities throughout the year.

Serve dinner at a homeless shelter
Volunteer at a homeless shelter to prepare and dish up a meal for those without a home this holiday. Find a local directory at The National Coalition for the Homeless.

Deliver a meal
Volunteer with a local Meals on Wheels Program to bring a hot dinner to those who may not be able to join family or friends.

Support our troops
Demonstrate your thankfulness toward troops who may be away from family this Thanksgiving. Create and send a care package at Anysoldier.com.

Give thanks to a vet
Show your truly personal gratitude by volunteering one-on-one and in-person at a Veterans Center, where you might serve as an escort greeter, transport patients to appointments and perform other duties. See opportunities at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Run a Turkey Trot
All over the country this Thanksgiving, there are opportunities to run races to benefit local charities and good causes. Runs are planned for on and around Thanksgiving Day and require advance registration.

Serve at a Salvation Army
Provide a meal for those in need at your local Salvation Army. Find details and other programs and opportunities to give for the holiday and beyond on the site.

Comments

[Deanna Dilley]

09:40 PM on 11/24/2011

I work at Habitat for Humanity, so I see people every day coming to volunteer there time, whether it's in the office, ReStore, construction, or donating new and gently used items to sell for peoples' homes or tools for building new houses. We are always looking for people to help out in all areas.

[The Wounded Ladle]

08:47 AM on 11/22/2011

Volunteer!

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
--Margaret Mead

[jacki650]

03:20 PM on 11/21/2011

Great ideas! There are so many ways to give back in each community and the holidays are an awesome time to volunteer and share the cheer. There is this great list of organizations in the Bay Area that are "great for families to learn to give back"..I plan on checking some of these out > http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/Erin/how-to-teach-the-gift-of-giving-back-as-a-family

*P.S. these are great organizations to volunteer year round*

[Nathaniel Calloway]

11:47 AM on 11/21/2011

Love the stock photo, HP. Whenever HP wants to convey poverty or crime they use photos picturing black people. They took a photo from an elementary school cafeteria and are trying to pass it off as a shelter with need people. HP is a joke.

[odra]

11:43 AM on 11/21/2011

That's the true spirit of Christmas. People being helped by people other than me. - Jerry Seinfeld.

[nfatt1]

10:57 AM on 11/21/2011

This year everyone should be thankful for the one percent for giving us a target.